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Netflix’s Wonka Competition Series Uses AI Gene Wilder Voice with Estate’s Blessing

By
Rebecca Murray
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Netflix’s trailer for Wonka’s The Golden Ticket confirms the competition series is using an AI version of Gene Wilder’s voice to narrate, which is an interesting choice. Fortunately, it has the support of Gene Wilder’s estate.

“More than five decades after Gene brought Willy Wonka to life, people of all ages and backgrounds around the world continue to find joy, laughter, and inspiration in his performance,” stated Karen B. Wilder, Gene Wilder’s wife, on behalf of the Gene Wilder Estate. “Gene had a remarkable ability to bring humor, wonder, and heart into people’s lives, and that connection has endured for generations. We are delighted that Wonka’s The Golden Ticket celebrates the warmth and imagination that he brought to the role, introducing that magic to a new generation while honoring the fans who have cherished it for decades.”

Netflix released the teaser on the 55th anniversary of the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, starring Gene Wilder, and announced the series will premiere on September 23, 2026. The nine-episode season will wrap up with a two-part finale streaming on September 30.

Wonka's The Golden Ticket
Wonka’s The Golden Ticket season 1 (Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2026)

Netflix released this description of the competition series:

“Twelve lucky Golden Ticket winners, each with a partner of their choosing, will step through the gates of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory and into a world of pure imagination, delicious mischief, and unexpected challenges. Once inside, contestants must navigate a series of Wonka’s games, tests, and temptations designed to challenge them physically, mentally, and morally.

In this high-stakes social experiment, players will journey through the factory’s wondrous and unpredictable landscape, adapting, strategizing, and withstanding the unknown while proving they have the instincts, resilience, and character to thrive in chaos. In the end, only one contestant will have what it takes to earn Wonka’s life-changing prize.”

Chris Culvenor, Paul Franklin, Rikkie Proost, David Tibballs, Alison Holloway, and Emer Harkin serve as executive producers. Rusty Goffe from the ’71 film returns as an Oompa Loompa.

A Killer Among Friends Season 2 Episode Guide & Air Dates

By
Rebecca Murray
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Jennifer Love Hewitt returns to host the second season of ID’s A Killer Among Friends. The six-episode season kicks off July 20, 2026, with new episodes airing on Mondays at 9pm ET/PT.

Season two’s episodes involve the murders of an Auburn University student, a 14-year-old pitcher, a member of a California theater group, and a teenage computer whiz. Jennifer Love Hewitt narrates each episode and serves as an executive producer.

“Following in the footsteps of its first season, which featured shocking cases of deadly friendship betrayals that irrevocably fractured once-tight-knit groups of friends, A Killer Among Friends will continue to unpack devastating cases of deception among groups where everyone thought they knew everything about each other,” reads Investigation Discovery’s synopsis.

Additional executive producers include Julie Pizzi, Jesse Daniels, Farnaz Farjam, and Elissa Halperin.

A Killer Among Friends

A Killer Among Friends Season 2 Episodes

Secret Life of a Private Eye
Premieres on July 20 at 9pm ET/PT
After a woman disappears in Florida, her friends uncover a hidden life filled with new relationships and secrets. As investigators follow the trail, suspicion shifts toward someone in her inner circle who may know more than they’ve revealed.

Strike to Kill
Premieres on July 27 at 9pm ET/PT
When an Auburn University graduate disappears, her tight-knit group of friends falls under suspicion. As investigators chase leads and rumors spread, distrust grows until new evidence reveals a chilling truth about someone close to her.

The Murder Pact
Premieres on August 3 at 9pm ET/PT
When an 18-year-old computer whiz vanishes after leaving a friend’s house in rural Georgia, his close friend group bonds together to search for answers. As days pass with no sign of him, suspicion grows and detectives begin to question th9ose closest to him.

Staging A Murder
Premieres on August 10 at 9pm ET/PT
Investigators find a young woman murdered in a California apartment, throwing a tight-knit theater group into chaos. As they search for answers, suspicion spreads through the case, leaving friends to question who they can trust.

Murder Lasts Forever
Premieres on August 17 at 9pm ET/PT
When a teenager disappears in North Carolina, her group of friends and their usual hangout spot become the focus of the investigation into her disappearance. As their stories begin to change, suspicion grows and the truth about that night slowly comes into question.

Rivalry Fueled Murder
Premieres on August 24 at 9pm ET/PT
Investigators find a 14-year-old pitcher dead, and the discovery shocks residents in Davis, California, as a baseball rivalry suddenly emerges as a possible motive.

Minions & Monsters Review: A Wacky Hollywood Love Letter

By
Kevin Finnerty
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Minions & Monsters
Ed, James and Henry in Illumination’s ‘Minions & Monsters’ (Photo credit: Illumination & Universal Pictures © Universal Studios)

Those hilarious and adorable little yellow minions are back and this time they are taking Hollywood by storm in Illumination Entertainment’s animated film Minions & Monsters.

The 2026 addition to the blockbuster Despicable Me franchise opens on the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame as guide Olivia (voiced by Allison Janney) gives a tour of the most influential forces in Hollywood and filmmaking. When she stops at an exhibit showcasing two Minions named James and Henry, the tourists have no clue who they are. So, Olivia begins to tell their story.

Throughout history, the Minions have searched to find an evil master to serve. From a giant cyclops to a mummy and an evil wizard, the Minions just keep failing and moving on. Two Minions, James and Henry, are different from the other Minions because instead of being focused on serving an evil master, they love to make up stories. They’re creative and have active imaginations.

When they and their fellow Minions end up in Hollywood during the 1920s, they accidentally get caught up in a train chase during a film shoot. The director and producers think they are a riot and offer them a contract. James, Henry, and their buddy Ed sign on, but the other Minions move on to find an evil master to serve.

James is desperate to be a director and make his own movie, which he’s come up with himself and titled Minions & Monsters. There’s just one problem … where is he going to find monsters?! Remember, the Minions served an evil wizard. Well, it turns out Ed kept the wizard’s spell book. James and Henry use the book to summon a little green demon named Goomi (voiced by Trey Parker) who tells the ambitious filmmakers he knows the perfect monsters for their film. 

Not long after James, Henry, and Ed help Goomi free his giant monster pals from their frozen prison, they realize Goomi has tricked them and intends to destroy the world with the help of his monster friends. So, it’s up to James, Henry, and Ed to find a way to stop Goomi and the monsters … if they can.

Colorful, goofy, and loud, Minions & Monsters is a love letter to Hollywood that gets too convoluted for its own good. It’s a zany adventure with plenty of slapstick and lively chases, but the main and secondary plots might be too difficult for young children to keep up with.

The film is fully stocked with industry jokes, from Citizen Kane and Charlie Chaplin’s Modern Times to a homage to the space thriller films of the 1950s. (One of the biggest monsters named “Irene” is a giant orange blob with hundreds of eyes and is a little reminiscent of the 1958 film The Blob.)

Minions & Monsters loses its way with the subplot involving the other Minions trying to serve an inept robot named Dort (voiced by Jesse Eisenberg) who wants to claim Earth as his own. This subplot becomes critical later in the film’s climax but might be too much for young children to follow. 

Monsters & Minions looks stunning, with vibrant, beautiful animation, and the voice talents do an excellent job. But, as it should be, the Minions are the ones who really shine, even more than the monsters.

Whether the Minions are accidentally unraveling their mummy master from his bandages, trying to poke Irene’s multiple eyes one at a time, or struggling to stop a train from crashing, it’s the Minions – especially James, Henry, and Ed – who are the lovable and wacky heart of the film.

GRADE: B

Rating: PG for rude/macabre humor, language, violence, and action
Runtime: 1 hour 30 minutes
Release Date: July 1, 2026
Directed By: Pierre Coffin
Studios: Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment

 

NCIS: Origins Season 3: Mark Harmon Returns for Full Season Present-Day Mystery

By
Rebecca Murray
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Mark Harmon NCIS: Origins
Mark Harmon as Leroy Jethro Gibbs in ‘NCIS: Origins’ (Photo © 2025 CBS Broadcasting, Inc)

Mark Harmon’s back as Leroy Jethro Gibbs in all episodes of the upcoming third season of CBS’s NCIS: Origins. According to the network, Harmon’s involvement will be part of a present-day mystery that involves his time at Camp Pendleton back in the 1990s.

Harmon will also continue to narrate the series, which stars Austin Stowell as a young Gibbs. Season three also stars Kyle Schmid as Mike Franks, Mariel Molino as Lala Dominguez, Tyla Abercrumbie as Mary Jo Hayes, Diany Rodriguez as Vera Strickland, and Caleb Foote as Randy Randolph.

The series follows Stowell as Gibbs in the ’90s prior to the events in CBS’s NCIS. Season three executive producers include Harmon, David J. North, Sean Harmon, Michele Greco, and Eric Christian Olsen.

CBS will air the new season on Tuesdays at 10pm ET/PT.

S.W.A.T. Exiles Spinoff Starring Shemar Moore Heads to Starz

By
Rebecca Murray
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SWAT Season 8 Finale Cast
David Lim, Annie Ilonzeh, Niko Pepaj, Shemar Moore, Anna Enger Ritch, Patrick St. Esprit and Jay Harrington in the ‘SWAT’ season 8 finale (Photo: Bill Inoshita/Sony Pictures Television/CBS © Sony Pictures Television)

The much-anticipated S.W.A.T. spinoff, S.W.A.T. Exiles, will air on Starz in the US. The original Sony Pictures Television production ran for eight seasons on CBS. Series star Shemar Moore, who urged the series’ passionate fan base to ask for more, returns to lead the spinoff as Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson.

The 10-episode season will premiere on September 25, 2026.

“S.W.A.T. Exiles is coming in hot! I couldn’t be more excited that STARZ is bringing this next chapter to audiences in the U.S. A huge thank you to Sony Pictures Television for believing in this franchise and continuing to invest in what we’ve built together,” stated Shemar Moore. “What makes this moment even more special is that we’re reaching audiences in all major territories worldwide. Fans everywhere will get to experience this epic new ride together.”

Jay Harrington and Patrick St. Esprit will reprise their roles as Sergeant David “Deacon” Kay and Commander Robert Hicks, with David Lim returning as Victor Tan in the penultimate episode.

The spinoff also stars Lucy Barrett (Deep Water), Adain Bradley (Warfare), Zyra Gorecki (La Brea), Freddy Miyares (When They See Us), and Ronen Rubinstein (9-1-1: Lone Star). 

Starz and Sony Pictures Television released this synopsis: “In this new spin-off of the hit series, after a high-profile mission goes sideways, Daniel ‘Hondo’ Harrelson is pulled out of forced retirement to lead a last-chance experimental S.W.A.T. unit made up of untested, unpredictable young recruits. Hondo must bridge a generational divide, navigate clashing personalities, and turn a squad of outsiders into a team capable of protecting the city – and saving the program that made him who he is.”

Jason Ning is the showrunner and executive produces along with Shemar Moore, James Scura, Jon Cowan, and Neal H. Moritz and Pavun Shetty of Original Film.

“The response to S.W.A.T. Exiles has been extraordinary and is a testament to the strength of the franchise, as well as the passion and commitment of Shemar Moore, Jason Ning, and Neal H. Moritz, who have been outstanding partners throughout the process,” said Keith Le Goy, Chairman, Sony Pictures Television. “As we continue to expand the S.W.A.T. universe, this project reflects our broader strategy of making bold investments in premium IP and leveraging our independent studio model to identify opportunities, move quickly, and maximize value around the world. The commitment from STARZ, combined with robust worldwide sales, validates both the franchise’s lasting appeal and the strength of Sony’s global business.”

 

Robert Eggers’ Werwulf Trailer: Aaron Taylor-Johnson Stars in Gothic Horror

By
Rebecca Murray
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Robert Eggers’ Werwulf trailer channels the distinct, haunting atmosphere of The Witch and Nosferatu. “Do not dread the darkness. Embrace it,” the trailer warns—a line that perfectly sums up Eggers’ knack for pulling audiences into his bleak cinematic worlds.

Writer/director Eggers reunites with his Nosferatu stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Willem Dafoe, and Lily-Rose Depp for a new take on the classic monster. “[…] The cool thing about going back into the past is that you can kind of hit a reset button,” explained Eggers in an interview with Esquire. “So all the clichés of being bitten by a werewolf and silver bullets and a lot of the stuff that has become almost campy doesn’t exist in the mythology of this movie. So you don’t need to have seen Lon Cheney Jr.’s The Wolf Man or An American Werewolf in London to get what’s going on here.”

Werwulf
Aaron Taylor-Johnson stars as Man in director Robert Eggers’ ‘WERWULF,’ a FOCUS FEATURES release. (Credit: Rory Mulvey / © 2026 FOCUS FEATURES LLC)

According to Eggers’ Esquire interview, Taylor-Johnson plays a farmer who’s cursed. Depp stars as his wife, and Dafoe is a hunter. And Eggers threw in an interesting tidbit: only a dog in the film has a name.

“Witness Robert Eggers’ most visceral and haunting experience yet,” reads the studio’s synopsis. “Focus Features presents Werwulf, a harrowing tale of devotion, damnation, and the devil within.”

Focus Features has set a December 25, 2026 theatrical release.

Sjón co-wrote the film and produces along with Eggers, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, and Garrett Bird. Executive producers include Chris Columbus, Eleanor Columbus, and Bernard Bellew.

Netflix Releases The Bombing of Pan Am 103 Trailer

By
Rebecca Murray
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Netflix’s full trailer for the limited series The Bombing of Pan Am 103 shows the launch of the investigation into the downing of a Pan Am plane that crashed into the town of Lockerbie. The six-part series will premiere on the streamer on July 30, 2026.

The drama, based on accounts by witnesses, stars Connor Swindells (Sex Education), Patrick J. Adams (Suits), Merritt Wever (Unbelievable), Peter Mullan (Ozark), Tony Curran (Outlander: Blood of my Blood), Eddie Marsan (The Power), Nicholas Gleaves (After The Flood), and Kevin McKidd (Grey’s Anatomy). Douglas Hodge (The Great), Lauren Lyle (Vigil), Andrew Rothney (The Undeclared War), Phyllis Logan (Downton Abbey), and Cora Bissett (Shetland) also star.

Rounding out the ensemble are Parker Sawyers (P-Valley), James Harkness (The Sixth Commandment), Molly Geddes (Dinosaur), Khalid Laith (Vigil), and Amanda Drew (The Gold).

The Bombing of Pan Am 103 Poster
Poster for ‘The Bombing of Pan Am 103’ (Photo Credit: Netflix)

“On December 21, 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 exploded over the small Scottish town of Lockerbie, killing 270 people. What followed was the largest murder investigation in the history of Scottish policing, into the deadliest act of terrorism on British soil,” reads Netflix’s synopsis. “Based on the testimony of those who were there, this is the true story of the collaboration between Scottish police and US law enforcement—and the families’ quest for justice.”

Michael Keillor directs, Jonathan Lee is the lead writer, and Gillian Roger Park wrote two of the six episodes. Julia Stannard serves as producer. Executive producers include Jonathan Lee; Michael Keillor; Simon Heath and Roderick Seligman for World Productions; Steve Stark and Stacey Levin for Toluca Pictures; Adam Morane-Griffiths, Sara Curran, and Herbert L. Kloiber for Night Train Media; and Gaynor Holmes for the BBC.

The limited series is produced by World Productions (an ITV Studios company) in association with MGM Television and Night Train Media.

The Devil’s Mouth Trailer: Kathryn Newton, Lana Condor Face Cave Shark Hunt

By
Rebecca Murray
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Paradise turns deadly for five college grads hoping for a fun vacation before real life kicks in in Amazon MGM Studios’ The Devil’s Mouth. The PG-13-rated horror thriller finds the BFFs being hunted by a shark inside a freshwater cave system. 

Kathryn Newton (Ready or Not 2), Lana Condor (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before), Nico Hiraga (Sweethearts), Gavin Casalegno (The Summer I Turned Pretty), and Tommi Rose (Sweet Magnolias) star as potential victims. Aja Gabel and Myung Joh Wesner wrote the screenplay and Jeff Wadlow (Imaginary) directs.

The Devil's Mouth Cast
A scene from ‘The Devil’s Mouth’ (Photo Credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

Prime Video’s synopsis reads, “Five friends set out on one last adventure along Thailand’s stunning coast, eager for a final thrill before life in the real world begins. They sign up for a guided swim through a remote cave system known as The Devil’s Mouth, a natural wonder that’s as breathtaking as it is unforgiving.

Deep inside the labyrinth of narrow waterways, their journey takes a terrifying turn when they discover that a freak storm the week before flooded the caves with sea life. The creatures died in the fresh water, but something survived… and it’s hunting them now—fast, silent, and deadly. Every corridor they round is overflowing with anxiety, and every wrong turn becomes a deadly encounter.

As panic spreads and their sense of direction slips away, the group begins to fracture. Trust erodes, fear takes over, and survival becomes a savage game. In the suffocating darkness, every choice could be their last as they learn that to make it out alive, sacrifices must be made.”

The Devil’s Mouth premieres on Prime Video on July 29, 2026.

Wadlow, Basil Iwanyk, and Erica Lee serve as producers. Carsten H. W. Lorenz, Will Flynn, and Sam Greenberg are executive producers.

Alicia Vikander Joins Aaron Taylor-Johnson in Netflix’s Enigma Variations

By
Rebecca Murray
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Alicia Vikander
Alicia Vikander joins ‘Enigma Variations’ (Photo Credit: Jason Bell / Provided by Netflix)

Oscar winner Alicia Vikander has signed on to Netflix’s Enigma Variations. Vikander joins Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who was previously announced to star in the series based on André Aciman’s best-selling novel published in 2017.

Per Netflix’s casting announcement, Vikander will play Claire and Taylor-Johnson (28 Years Later) is on board to star as Paul. Amanda Kate Shuman (The Wheel of Time) will guide the series as showrunner and executive producer.

“Enigma Variations […] tells the story of a man remade by the lovers who ignite and undo him over the course of six transformative years,” reads Netflix’s synopsis. “It’s an intimate yet sweeping portrait of masculinity, sexuality, and modern love—and in a world of endless choices, it asks the question: will we know when we’ve found the one?”

Additional executive producers include author André Aciman, Monica Levinson, and Media Res’ Michael Ellenberg, Christina Malach, and Lindsey Springer. The History of Sound’s Oliver Hermanus will direct and executive produce.

Vikander won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance in The Danish Girl (2015). Vikander’s recent credits include The Last Day, The Assessment, Rumours, Firebrand, and Irma Vep. The Oscar winner’s currently in production on The Worst opposite Jamie Dornan and Anne Hathaway. The Echo Chamber, starring Vikander, Luca Marinelli, and Susan Sarandon, will open in theaters this year. 

Two-time BAFTA nominee Aaron Taylor-Johnson most recently appeared in Fuze, 28 Years Later, Kraven the Hunter, Nosferatu, and The Fall Guy.

People Magazine Investigates Explores the Soulaire Allerai Cult

By
Rebecca Murray
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People continues its dive into cults with People Magazine Investigates: The Cult of the Soulful Journey. The special presentation focuses on self-help guru Soulaire Allerai, who set up a commune in Minnetonka, Minnesota, promising her followers spiritual growth.

Investigation Discovery has set a Tuesday, July 21, 2026 at 9pm ET/PT premiere.

People Magazine Investigates Cult of the Soulful JourneyID offers this description:

“Attracting followers by offering job possibilities, Soulaire Allerai created what appeared to be a blissful, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. For some, the prospect of a job with Allerai was so enticing, they moved their lives to Minnesota to live in communal homes with other members. Once settled in the Soulful Journey community, former members say that they paid for classes centered on Allerai’s claim that she could channel divine entities, including a figure named “G.”

Many followers were pushed to spend the little money they had, with some even needing to take out loans, to attend more classes.

Capturing a web of false promises and manipulation, People Magazine Investigates: The Cult of the Soulful Journey unpacks the stories of past Soulful Journey members, showing the psychological, emotional, and spiritual pain that they experienced during their time in Allerai’s world. Over the course of two hours, People Magazine Investigates: The Cult of the Soulful Journey uncovers the reality of the organization by sharing the first-hand story of Rik and Bill, a couple who was involved in the Soulful Journey. Their interviews, along with those of past members and family members still in the cult, expose how spiritual language and communal ideals can be weaponized to maintain control.”

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